Sunbeam Heated Blanket

Choose by the cover you want. The Brookstone Cozy Heated Plush Throw is the throw to buy: a 50 by 60 inch throw with four heat settings, a 4-hour auto shut-off and ETL certification. Sunbeam's Royal Mink Sherpa is the Sunbeam to buy, with four settings on one button and an auto-off after four hours. If your Sunbeam flashes an F code or feels cold, run the maker's reset steps in the first section before you replace anything. Never open the blanket, cord or control to repair it yourself.

Why Isn't My Sunbeam Heated Blanket Working?

A flashing F, FF, F1 or F2 means your Sunbeam's control found a problem, and a blanket lying flat that feels only warm may be working normally. Match what you see to a branch below, and replace only when the steps after the list fail.

• Your Sunbeam still flashes after the reset steps and you want a 50 x 60 in. throw with 4 heat settings and a 4-hour auto shut-off, in Blue Trellis, Taupe Trellis or Ivory: get the Brookstone Cozy Heated Plush Throw.
• Your Sunbeam stays cold between the folds in the fold test and you want a larger microplush throw, 62x84 inches with 3 heat settings and an 8-hour auto shut-off: get the Electric Soft Microplush Heated Blanket Throw.
• You want to stay with Sunbeam and want a 60 x 50 in. throw with four settings and one-button control: get the Sunbeam Royal Mink Sherpa Heated Blanket.
• You need a queen or king with dual controls and 10 heat levels: get the Bedsure GentleSoft Solid Flannel Heated Blanket.

If the control flashes, check the flag tag on the control cord, then look the blanket over for damage. With none, unplug it, make sure the control is seated in the module, plug it back in and set the control to On. After 2 or 3 reset attempts, disconnect the power cord and contact Sunbeam Consumer Care. Worn spots, loose plugs, cracked wiring or charred marks on either side mean the blanket goes in the bin.

If the light is on and the blanket seems cold, fold it three times over, connect the control cord to the module, plug in and set it to the highest setting. Wait 5 to 7 minutes, then feel between the folds. Stop at 7 minutes. Laid flat, the blanket is not a heating pad and will not feel hot.

If the trouble began after a wash, let the blanket and control dry completely before you reconnect them, then run the same reset. The washing section lists what to avoid.

That is where owner troubleshooting ends. A blanket that fails the fold test is a warranty call to Sunbeam Consumer Care at 1-800-892-7684 in the US, not a repair job and not a return to the store. Sunbeam's warranty runs 1 to 5 years by product line, covers the original buyer only and needs your receipt.

Check who the blanket is for before you buy any of these. Sunbeam's manual lists people who should not use heated blankets, mattress pads or throws: an infant, a child, an incapacitated or immobile person, a paraplegic, a quadriplegic, and a diabetic. It also names anyone insensitive to heat such as a person with poor circulation, and anyone who cannot operate the controls. That is the maker's warning. Whether it applies to you is for your doctor.

If you have a pacemaker, the sources differ. Boston Scientific lists electric blankets as safe when they are in good working condition and used as intended and gives no distance, while the British Heart Foundation recommends keeping one 15 cm, about 6 inches from the pacemaker. Ask your doctor or cardiologist and the maker of your device.

If your bed adjusts, a waterbed or a bunk bed, a Sunbeam throw is out. Its manual rules out all three.

How Do I Use a Sunbeam Heated Blanket?

Lay the blanket flat, set the control, and switch it off and unplug it when you're done. Never run it with another electrically heated product.

Smooth it out every time. Falling asleep on a bunched-up area is a common cause of burns, and folding a blanket in use can damage the wires inside. Store it rolled, not folded.

On the controller, a Sunbeam blanket or mattress pad switches off after 10 hours of continuous use and a throw after 3. The display shows AutoOff when the timer is active and StayOn when it is disabled, and active is the default. Some controls let you choose 2, 6 or 10 hours. Preheat runs 30 minutes, then the control returns to your setting. A power outage resets the timer. A control that feels warm is normal. If a pet chews the cord or the control goes missing or misbehaves, stop using the blanket and call Sunbeam Consumer Service.

Sleeping with the blanket on is where the sources split. The UL Solutions article quotes burn director Derek E. Bell advising you to switch the blanket on about half an hour before bed and off before getting in. The Home & Comfort manual says to use the lowest temperature setting for prolonged use or while sleeping, and the HEMA manual says to set L or 1 for sleeping or long use. Follow the manual for your own blanket.

Are Sunbeam Electric Blankets Good?

Some are: buy the Royal Mink Sherpa and pass over the Nordic Premium.

The Royal Mink Sherpa warms up in less than a minute, heats evenly and hides its wires.

Skip the Nordic Premium. It has detachable controllers that make machine washing easier, but its thin fabric and a coil-free gap in the middle leave cool spots near the center.

If you want to compare beyond Sunbeam, the best electric blanket page is for you.

There is no best electric blanket for elderly users who cannot feel heat or work a control. Electric blankets are not recommended for anyone unable to operate them safely, and the call belongs to the person's doctor. For anyone who can, an overnight blanket should have temperature settings and automatic shut-off and overheat protection.

Sunbeam Heated Blanket Blinking

Blinking means the control found a problem, and the code depends on your control family. FF belongs to ChoicePlus models. F1 and F2 belong to SelectTouch and ComfortSet. A single F belongs to StyleSmart II, DesignSmart and ChoiceTouch. On OneSet, EasySet, PrimeStyle AO and EliteStyle controls, a flashing light is the signal. Every one leads to the reset in the first section.

Sunbeam Heated Blanket Washing

Wash it in cold water on a gentle cycle with mild soap, and dry it on low in a home dryer. Disconnect the power cord from the wall before you detach the control cord.

Presoak for 15 minutes in mild soap and cold water. Wash two minutes, rinse in fresh cold water, spin dry, then stretch it gently back to size. Never use a commercial or laundromat dryer: it runs too hot for the wiring. Preheat your home dryer on low for 2 minutes and tumble 10 minutes on low. Take the blanket out damp, stretch it, and drape it over a clothesline or shower rod without clothespins.

Skip dry cleaning, bleach, cleaning fluids, wringers, ironing, mothballs and sprays, and never submerge the control or cords. Skipping the steps can shrink the blanket and possibly create a fire hazard.

The Brookstone Cozy Heated Plush Throw is machine washable and dryer safe by its care label. The Pursonic microplush throw has a detachable controller for machine washing.